MOSCOW—Ericsson is actively operating on the former Soviet communications market and its recent successes include supplies of GSM equipment to a leading Russian and a Kazakh carrier.
Ericsson signed a contract with the second-biggest Russian carrier Vimpelcom (BeeLine) for the delivery of equipment for the construction of GSM 900/1800 MHz networks in 31 out of 89 Russian regions. The regions are situated in the Volga area, North Caucasus and Siberia. The cost of the contract was not disclosed.
In the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan, Ericsson delivered a new switchboard and other GSM equipment worth US$13.7 million to the national GSM Kazakhstan carrier, which operates under the K’Cell and Activ trademarks.
The carrier said the new equipment will be installed before the New Year holidays and will help expand the coverage and improve the quality of communications.
GSM Kazakhstan, which began the year with 140,000 subscribers, said the figure had already exceeded 330,000, and the new equipment will increase network capacity to 650,000 clients.
